Rewarded For Traveling

Traveling can be a rewarding experience for people. However it can also seem overwhelming and expensive. If you want to travel internationally the best way to get the most out of your trip is to put in time and research. Using the knowledge of others who have been where you want to go is a great tip and the Internet is a great tool for that. Looking in multiple places for tips and experiences is very helpful.

Online Tools

For online tools, Pinterest can be an excellent resource. Although it has a reputation for crafts and recipes, it is also a wealth of knowledge. Begin by titling a Pinterest board after the place you plan to visit. Then search for the location followed by something like “things to do” or “best restaurants” or “top sights”. You will be rewarded with a wealth of articles, blogs and listicles all in one convenient place. You can look them over and see what has information you might want and then save it to your board. You can also search the name of your intended location followed by “cheap” or “free” for money saving tips. You will find many people sharing stories about the joys of traveling, what to see and what not to see.

Instagram

You can even find itineraries to use as guidelines for your trip. Another great resource for traveling is Instagram. You can use their search feature to search for the hashtag of the place you want to go. For example, if you were traveling to Barcelona you could find current photos and videos of what people are posting in Barcelona. These pictures may give ideas, inspire you, or help you decide if you really want to go. If you have heard of a hotel, restaurant or experience you can search for that along with the name of Barcelona and see what it is like on an intimate level. This is especially great for checking out hotels from real people or seeing what the most people like doing. Snapchat is another social media device that can be used to view what people are doing in real time. You can search for Barcelona and see the videos that people are sharing on their Snapchat stories in that location.

Old Fashion

While the Internet is great, you truly can’t forget about good old-fashioned paper guidebooks. Rick Steve’s is a travel guide brand known around the world, and for a reason. He researches travel locations deeply, and frequently, to give you the most up to date information. He even breaks down possible itineraries, maps and important sights. He will even explain information about the currency, language and customs of the local culture. Sometimes the books give information about free audio-guided walking tour apps and will include tear out maps of neighborhoods. The Lonely Plant is another great guidebook series. They include slightly different items such as more information on restaurants, nightlife and festivals. They also include more pictures in color, which can be helpful when trying to decide how to spend your vacation money. The books are similar in price but will both be a great help for planning your next vacation.